Червона чума
Chapter 5
Hefollowed,andthatnighthecaughther. Hestruckher.Doyouunderstand? Hebeatherwiththoseterriblefistsofhisandmadeherhisslave. Itwasshewhohadtogatherthefirewood,buildthefires,cook,anddoallthedegradingcamp-labor—she,whohadneverperformedamenialactinherlife. Thesethingshecompelledhertodo,whilehe,apropersavage,electedtoliearoundcampandlookon. Hedidnothing,absolutelynothing,exceptonoccasiontohuntmeatorcatchfish.”
“GoodforChauffeur,”Hare-Lipcommentedinanundertonetotheotherboys. “Irememberhimbeforehedied. Hewasacorker. Buthedidthings,andhemadethingsgo. Youknow,Dadmarriedhisdaughter,an’yououghttoseethewayheknockedthespotsoutaDad. TheChauffeurwasason-of-a-gun. Hemadeuskidsstandaround. Evenwhenhewascroakinghereachedoutforme,once,an’laidmyheadopenwiththatlongstickhekeptalwaysbesidehim.”
Hare-Liprubbedhisbulletheadreminiscently,andtheboysreturnedtotheoldman,whowasmaunderingecstaticallyaboutVesta,thesquawofthefounderoftheChauffeurTribe.
“AndsoIsaytoyouthatyoucannotunderstandtheawfulnessofthesituation. TheChauffeurwasaservant,understand,aservant. Andhecringed,withbowedhead,tosuchasshe. Shewasalordoflife,bothbybirthandbymarriage. Thedestiniesofmillions,suchashe,shecarriedinthehollowofherpink-whitehand. And,inthedaysbeforetheplague,theslightestcontactwithsuchashewouldhavebeenpollution. Oh,Ihaveseenit.
